DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez. CATHY MIRANDA/蜜桃工作室 FILE PHOTO
Two rapid response teams (RRT) have been sent to Egypt and Israel to assist in the possible evacuation of some 100 Filipinos and their Palestinian spouses in conflict-stricken Gaza, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a press briefing Monday.
DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said most Filipinos married to Palestinians won鈥檛 leave without their spouses. 鈥淪o if ever there is a need to repatriate, maybe we have to also repatriate their spouses,鈥� he said.
Hernandez said that although repatriation is usually for Filipinos 鈥渋f our nationals will not leave without their families and we are so concerned about their safety, we might as well bring their families along with them.鈥�
The DFA official said 鈥渢he RRTs are there to do an assessment of the condition, as well as to prepare for possible evacuation,鈥� although there has been no reported Filipino casualty in the recent escalation of violence between the Israeli military and the Gaza-based Palestinian extremist group Hamas.
But the Philippine embassies in Egypt and Israel鈥攚hich border the Gaza Strip鈥攈ave identified possible exit points in coordination with authorities in the area, Hernandez said. 鈥淪ome exit points in Israel are protected by Hamas (so) we鈥檒l have to use other exit points in the contingency plans.鈥�
There are about 41,000 Filipinos in Israel, the DFA spokesperson said, but at this time there is no danger to them that would warrant an evacuation.
鈥淥ur priority (are) the Filipinos in the Gaza Strip (which is) controlled by Hamas,鈥� he added.
As of Sunday, no one had requested evacuation, Hernandez said.聽 鈥淏ut we are preparing for the worst-case scenario,鈥� he added.
The Filipinos 鈥渨ere alerted to be聽 mindful of security and safety and to watch out for advisories from embassies,鈥� Hernandez said, adding that families may call the DFA鈥檚 24-hour hotline (632) 8433333 for updates on the situation in Gaza.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the attacks by Palestinian militants targeting Israel and called on Israel to exercise maximum restraint.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has also voiced its concern over the violence which it said 鈥減ut civilians at great risk.鈥�
鈥淲e support the calls of the Secretary-General for an immediate de-escalation of tensions and his demand that both sides should do everything to avoid further escalation and must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law to ensure the protection of civilians at all times,鈥� the UN said. Erika Sauler, PDI and Fat Reyes, 蜜桃工作室
Originally posted: 12:37 pm | Monday, November 19th, 2012